Burlington 39, Racine Horlick 24
Entertaining game ends in controversy
BURLINGTON — “Would we have gotten that call if my safety was a Caucasian?”
After a helmet-to-helmet collision inside the Racine Horlick 5-yard line that left Burlington receiver Jake Weidert motionless on the sideline, trainers and coaches rushed to the east sideline of Don Dalton Stadium Friday night. An eerily silent crowd observed in shock as Weidert showed little sign of movement, maybe a clenched fist, before being carted away on a stretcher, his eyes closed.
Horlick was flagged for a personal foul, as the referee cited an illegal hit, but Horlick coach Brian Fletcher decided to verbalize his frustration with the aforementioned quote.
Down 33-18 with three minutes to play and his team about to lose, Fletcher’s gripe was aimed at the referee but heard by the entire sideline along with medical personnel and Burlington coaches attending Weidert a mere 20 feet away.
It was the coach’s second unsportsmanlike penalty of the game, and he was swiftly ejected.
After approximately 20 minutes, Weidert was experiencing increased movement on the stretcher, which was wheeled into a waiting ambulance.
The stunning injury combined with the shocking comment took away from a game that saw Burlington score 19 unanswered second-half points in a 39-24 victory.
The Demons improved to 2-0 overall.
Cal Tully tossed four touchdowns on a night where Burlington was held under 100 yards rushing. Defensively, senior Hegeman Tiedt recorded eight tackles and a sack and was instrumental in helping shut down the Horlick running attack, which ran roughshod for touchdown scampers of 34, 22 and 16 yards in the first half.
Burlington coach Steve Tenhagen said the team made a few minor defensive adjustments in the second half, and Horlick was held without a score until garbage time.
The Demons are playing complete football, in all three phases, said coach Steve Tenhagen, and it’s the
squad’s first 2-0 start since 2013.
A key turning point came midway through the third quarter.
Horlick faced a fourth down from its own 5-yard line and brought out the punt unit. But a perfect snap suddenly became a fake and a Horlick receiver was open in the right flat. Defensive coordinator Mike Deans’ unit was ready, with a safety call on, and Donal O’ Sullivan swooped in to break up the pass.
“I was proud of our discipline on that play,” Tenhagen said. “Our defensive coaches did a great job tonight.”
On the next play, Tully found Nick Klug on a five-yard touchdown pass in the right corner, and a close, back-and-forth 20-18 game was 27-18, with momentum clearly on Burlington’s side.
Then, after an Erik Viel interception, Burlington sustained a 50-yard drive, capped off by a 13-yard scoring strike from Tully to Ty Wiemer with nine minutes left.
Burlington was outgained by 29 yards, but Horlick put together a lengthy drive in garbage time against Burlington’s second unit.
With a dominant performance from the jump in week one, Burlington also showed it can shake off a rusty first half and take over in the second.
“We are believing in each other on every play,” Tiedt said after the game. “We are trusting each other to do their assignment. We are a family. We have bled, sweated and cried together since day one.”
But people unfortunately won’t be talking about the win after this game.
Weidert should be OK, Fletcher could face discipline
Weidert is going to be OK, according to several sources. He suffered a concussion, but he regained full movement in all extremities and hopes to be back at some point this season.
Fletcher, on the other hand, will most likely have to explain why he was ejected. Though it’s a rule to eject someone after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, it was clear from the look on the referee’s face and the short amount of time between comment and ejection it didn’t go over well.
I’ve seen coaches swear at referees, throw temper tantrums and even scream in their kids’ faces. But racial language is unchartered territory, something rarely encountered and mostly taboo to the point where WIAA officials, coaches and players probably don’t talk about it often.
Not in my 12 years of covering football on Friday nights have I witnessed this kind of aftermath from a vicious hit, nor have I come across such a blatant, unabashed form of public racism, despite the fact it was only one word. One word is all it takes, and things can change forever.
Before we go villainizing this man, it’s important to know the whole story. All I know is what he said, not if players were trash-talking during the game, or if the referees had some kind of hidden agenda.
Fletcher expressed his freedom of speech, just like all of have the right to do.
But you don’t throw out the word “Caucasian” like nobody will notice. For the record, the player who hit Weidert, who just so happens to be white, is black.
Again, Fletcher was understandably frustrated, his team on the brink of starting the season 0-2, and Burlington scored on the next play to put the game out of reach at 39-18.
My problem is that a teenage kid was laying on the ground for at least two minutes, not moving at all, with trainers, coaches, five people in all, huddled around him trying to help him, an entire stadium is at the point of prayer, and the coach still cares about the outcome of the game?
I immediately tweeted the quote, and it has since been retweeted more than 10 times in only two hours.
I received a request to report what I heard to the Horlick athletic director, but that is not my place. I’m simply doing my job, reporting what I saw in a public setting, a high school football game.
Sure, Horlick fans or friends of Fletcher will say it was an opposing player, and it wasn’t meant maliciously. Who knows, maybe Horlick was receiving unfair calls?
Also, the penalty was still fresh, and it’s normal for a coach to voice his displeasure to the referee. Referees will never get any love, and I understand that. Bad calls are made every game, and the right call is many times missed.
Overall, it was inappropriate and painfully disrespectful and lacking in empathy. Like it or not, Fletcher is a role model for these young men, you know, his players, some that were within an arm’s length of him at the time of the comment.
Football is a big boy’s game. There’s swearing, hitting, fighting, violence, you name it. Coaches won’t hesitate to rip a kid a new one if he screws up and hurts the team. They fight for their players, and they go to war every Friday night.
I completely understand the heat of the moment, initial reaction, and letting your emotions get the best of you. I do it more than I’d like, and it has hurt me in the past.
So let’s not go rushing to judgment. Fletcher made a mistake, and I’m sure he feels remorse. I will attempt to contact him before Tuesday’s deadline.
Hopefully, things like this open the eyes of the public, and can help spark a positive change.
Communication with referees really isn’t necessary. Coaches don’t have much, if any business mouthing off to the refs. They are being paid to do their job, just like the coaches. Asking for an explanation is respectful and displays good sportsmanship.
Berating an official or using inappropriate probably isn’t going to change his or her mind, and you might even get ejected. Not only does this hurt your team, but it leaves a lasting impression on vulnerable teen athletes, and can negatively skew how they look at sports, authority figures and just the human race in general.
Maybe I’m making something out of nothing. At this point, no action has been taken, and if I was the Horlick AD, I’d go to bat for my coach just as I’d expect my boss to have my back in a time of uncertainty.
The combination of sadness, concern and sympathy with disgust and shock at the inappropriate comment made cheering at the end of Burlington’s win nonexistent. The sidelines and crowd was still trying to digest what went down just 30 minutes earlier.
Luckily, Weidert is doing better and an extremely tragic injury was avoided. You never want to see stuff like that occur in sports, but it’s the sad reality.
Fletcher’s case is far more complex. I hope he learns from this experience and moves forward.
In time, all will be forgiven, but most likely not forgotten.
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“Coaches won’t hesitate to rip a kid a new one if he screws up and hurts the team.”
That’s a high quality quote from the Standard Press. Lets try to use language that is appropriate for print next time Mike, ok?
That is my opinion, certainly not the norm. Most coaches are fair. I’m sure Fletcher is a good coach and a good man. He just made a mistake. It happens. But that kind of stuff can’t be accepted in society.
Thanks for your comment, it’s appreciated.
Football is not war
Hi Mike, Thanks for the article. I encourage you to reach out to my brother Chris regarding the Horlick coach’s messages of regret directed to the BHS staff after the game.
what the coach said is unforgivable. He had an opportunity to teach his players how to be classy and caring and instead took the low road. I am happy the young man is going to be OK. As you said Mike, the sting may fade but it will never be forgotten. Given the racial tension of today, it’s just a shame the coach had to go that way. This could be turned into a great lesson for all of us, depending on how it it handled. I hope the players and community take the high road and move on. This is not the tone any community wants to set. Great article Mike!
The timing was questionable but it’s not racist for the coach to call into question whether the ref would have made the same call on a white player. That’s a fair question.
As a parent sitting in the stands, who also happens to be a registered nurse, I would like to know why it took 20 minutes to transport that player who was “almost completely unresponsive ” that whole time???? I have spent 13 years as a Level 1 Trauma Nurse and feel that if this is true, Burlington coaches, trainers and medics put that boys life at risk! That’s an even BIGGER problem than a frustrated coaches comments on a poorly called game by ref officials.
I believe personnel did the best they could. From what I saw about 20 feet away, there was slight movement and a conversation. I can not confirm that.
Thanks for your insight.
Doctor here, the fact that the player was almost completely unresponsive is the reason he was not moved. In cases with what could be spine injuries it could do much more damage if attempts to move and transport the patient before understanding the extent of the injuries.
As a trauma nurse you may not have full experience with onsite injuries. In regards to putting any blame on coaches, that’s just ridiculous. I only allow my children to play football because I am aware that coaches will be overridden by training staff in regards to all injuries. Would you want your child to have a decision on his medical health be taken by a person with zero medical training?
As a trauma nurse, I also know the nature of timing. On site trauma is treated quickly and with a steady hand. I am more than familiar with the need to assess for c-spine injuries, as well as, potential brain hemorrhage…which as we know can be more lethal than a spinal injury depending the the level of the spine the injury occurred at. For anyone to suggest that because I am a RN that I lack knowledge in what is the standard of care is pathetic and egocentric. Yes, I am glad the young man had care, yes I am VERY glad he is ok. My point to the article editorializing in this article, is the focus was on something a frustrated coach said, which was out of line, and not on the player. My question still stands…if a person is laying motionless and almost completely unresponsive, as reported in this article, with a medic unit on site, why did it take so long to move the patient? I would think that in a case like that the physician would accompany the patient in the medic and want to get him to a hospital as fast as possible for a CT and other necessary tests/medications that are not available on a football field. That is how on site trauma is treated, stabilize and move.
I was sitting in the stands and when the coach was ejected a loud Horlick parent yelled ” we still love you coach” Really!
Easy Nurse Kelly……..if you feel that strongly about it, look into the issue. From MY view in the stands, it looked like he had good people taking care of him. Dr Nicolai was out there too…..I’m sure he would like to hear from you and your “professional opinion”.
Now…..the inportant issue here……young Mr. Weidert was not critically injured. Speedy recovery, sir.
I would be happy too. DJ, again, just because I have a RN behind my name, don’t think “my professional opinion” isn’t based on the national standards of care. Just because I am a RN doesn’t mean that I have the inability to critical think. I’m sure if that were YOUR child and YOUR child ended up with a brain hemorrhage and passed away because of a delay getting him to a hospital, your tune would be quite different. Or if he ended up paralyzed because IV steroids were not started as soon as they should have been. So we will agree, it is a wonderful day for positive outcomes for this young player and yes, he will see more games. So DJ, thank you for “your professional opinion” as well.
Perhaps it shouldn’t have been the head coach to be the one to say those words, and it definitely was not the best time, but no one in the stands last night can deny those referees had an agenda. I heard the whispers in the crowd the entire night, someone needed to speak up about the obvious lack of fair calls last night, and from an outside perspective, it did seem to involve race.
PERFECTLY STATED!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone’s a critic when it comes to referees. Yes, I’m sure three or four individuals randomly assigned by a reputable officials association came into Burlington and said, “let’s screw Horlick because some portion of the team has a skin color other than white.”
I’m sure that’s exactly what happened.
Not the first time a team from inner city has come to your football field and has felt the same way, as if the ref’s have a race agenda.
And it’s not racist to call people on something like that. It’s racist to ignore it.
I’m sure Fletcher is a good coach and a good man. He just made a mistake.” I disagree. For a grown man, a coach, to pull out the race card when there is a potential severe injury is just plain low. I would prefer to call him a piece of “feces”, or maybe a racist “anal orifice”. This is getting old real quick in this country. It does not help that our POTUS is fueling it all. It is very sad the direction this country is going and it indisputable that it is being fueled by the existing people in charge. Sickened.
The Horlick coach should be suspended for what he did if not fired. There is no excuse for a ROLE MODEL to do something like that no matter what the score is. Mark Chmura who coaches at West Allis Central last week and has not been punished and that man should not be involved with kids what so ever.
Glad Bhs player is doing well. The refs played a part in causing a negative impact on the game. Wiaa need to do a thorough investigation into the Refs motives for 19 penalties.
INJURY UPDATE: According to a teammate’s mother, doctors have ruled out a concussion for Jacob Weidert but there could be ligament damage in his neck.
From everyone here at Southern Lakes Newspapers, our thoughts and prayers are with the Weidert family.
Mike Ramczyk
Sounds like he called a spade a spade.
I am appalled at the comment and classless move of Mr. Fletcher. I am personally filing a formal complaint with the WIAA and the Racine Unified School District. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated in life and at any level of high school sports. Bad Role Model.
ooooo, big deal. The nanny state wussification continues. A word is a word, not matter how “vile” its just a word, and anyone who gets wound up over a simple word is a clown! Put on your big boy pants and get a grip!
D Mankel: YOU are the problem with High School Sports. You’re probably the daddy that makes your kid do 1000 push-ups a day and 50 yard gassers until he drops so he can make the “NFL” some day, LMAO. Get real tough guy. You’re kid will NEVER make the NFL, so let him grow up a kid and teach him to respect the game & other players. How about YOU pull up YOUR big boy pants & get a grip??
Mankel wears panties not boy pants.
So I see my comment was not posted I’m sure it has to do with me talking truth and you people don’t like the truth you like it just your way and believe what you want no he should not be suspended you people are a joke … So look over this and not post this one too thanks have a great day
Jennifer,
Your comments were posted however you replied to the wrong article. look under “BHS hosts ACT prep course”
Glad the BHS player will be ok. As a parent of a Park high school student/athlete from 2002-2006, we always had to scrap and fight and damn near blow BHS out to win the game. It is sad but true. Coach may have been wrong in what he said but he said what a lot of people were thinking I’m sure. In those 4 years sitting in the stands, i’ve heard a lot worse from coaches to players to fans. Racism is still alive unfortunately!
Isn’t it funny the Journal Times hardly put anything in their paper about this? Now if it was the other way around they would be jumping all over that crap. Quit playing the race card and get over it. A child could have been seriously injured/paralyzed from a cheap shot. Show some respect to the injured player.
Hey Beth,
Thanks for the comment.
To be clear, it was NOT a cheap shot by the Horlick player.
It was a normal football hit, trying to prevent a touchdown. Unfortunately, it’s a violent game and injuries do occur.
Horlick’s players showed nothing but class, telling the player “we will pray for you” and “good game” as he was carted away on the stretcher.
I found out today Coach Fletcher expressed his best well wishes personally to the injured player’s father immediately after the game.
The Journal Times didn’t report this because I was the only media member who heard it. They didn’t.
Thanks
Mike Ramczyk
Thanks for replying Mike but it doesn’t have to be a “violent” game. They’re high school kids. The comment in the paper about being on the other side of I94 was inappropriate too. This is where talking like this among your team can incite anger and rough playing. We saw this at Gus Macker. Coaches swearing at the refs, telling their kids to play rough. It’s not necessary. It’s learned behavior.
Please quite referring that these players are going to war on Friday night. Having a Son who played football in high school and then served 3 tours in Irag and Afghanistan, playing football is not going to war or battle and I wish writers and coaches and everybody else would think twice about saying it. It is not even close.
Isn’t it ironic that the refs were wearing black t shirts with the large bright orange B ( for Burlington) under their ref shirts. Visible and obvious when they took off their stripes.
Let’s clear up something, calling someone a racist isn’t racist. Neither is referring to someone as Caucasian. Talking about racism isn’t racist. Racism is racist.
Talking about racism isn’t racist. Referring to someone as Caucasian isn’t racist. Calling a white person a racist isn’t racist. Fletcher’s comments may have been ill-advised, but they certainly weren’t racist.
The real story is this no name no career hack trying to get his 15 minutes of hick fame by trying to start some kind of race war over basically nothing. Its a stupid game and a couple words – grow up and move on.
Best comment on the entire post!!!!!!!!!!!!